COURSE CURRICULUM

The Master of Arts in International Relations requires 36 credit hours, structured to give students both a broad and in-depth understanding of international affairs. The program begins with core courses including Introduction to International Relations, Research Methods and Perspectives, and a final Capstone or Thesis with a university thesis requirement. Students must also complete two courses from the Comparative Politics Cluster, which offers options such as Comparative Politics, Politics of Development, Comparative Foreign Policy, and a variety of regional area studies including the Middle East, Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America, and South and Central Asia. In addition, four courses must be chosen from the International Politics Cluster, covering diverse topics such as International Political Economy, International Law, Theories of International Relations, U.S. Foreign Policy, War and Diplomacy, International Security, Energy and Food Security, Humanitarian Issues, Terrorism, and Globalization, as well as specialized subjects like International Disaster Law and Outer Space Politics. To complete the program, students take three elective courses, which can be additional selections from either cluster or professional options such as Field Work, Seminars, Advanced Research Methods, or Internships. This flexible yet rigorous curriculum ensures students are prepared for academic, professional, or policy-related careers in international relations.